suggest English · revision 3391

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, back-formation|attested=1526|origins=la gerō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /səˈdʒest/, US /səɡˈdʒest/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|suggestus]], past participle of [[m|la|suggerere|t=to put under, bring up, supply, prompt]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|sub-|t=under, up]] and [[m|la|gerere|t=to bring, carry]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart treats it as a back-formation from [[suggestion]], modelled on the Latin participle.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[gesture]] and [[register]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To bring to mind, to put forward an idea: 1526,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) at first often of something bad or evil.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To prompt someone to evil, to tempt, is from before 1586 and is obsolete,^(OED 1989) as is “to insinuate a false idea” (1607).^(OED 1989) Of feelings or conscience, “to prompt”, is from 1583.^(OED 1989) “To call up an idea by indirect association”, as in ''the shape suggests a bird'', is from 1709 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) ''Suggestion'' is older, from about 1340 as “a prompting to evil” and later “a proposal”.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Suggestive'' is from the 17th century,^(Hoad 1986) and ''suggestible'' from 1890.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1340 – ''suggestion'', prompting to evil.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – to bring to mind, propose.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1583 – to prompt.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1586 – to tempt.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1709 – to evoke by association.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – ''suggestible''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put forward for consideration; to [[propose]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To bring to mind by association: ''the music suggests a summer day''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To show or [[imply]] indirectly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To serve as a motive for; to prompt.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[suggester]]

+ * [[suggestedness]]

+ * [[suggestingly]]

+ * [[suggestion]]

+ * [[suggestive]]

+ * [[suggestible]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gesture]]

+ * [[register]]

+ * [[digest]]

+ * [[congest]]

+ * [[jest]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''suggest'' with ''imply'', ''hint'', ''intimate'' and ''insinuate'', all meaning to convey ideas indirectly, and ''suggest'' refers to calling something to mind through an association of ideas.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}